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Mental health support is front of mind for Jones Bros22nd Mar 2023

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is continuing to break down barriers for its employees by extending its work with a leading mental health charity for another three years.

Mates in Mind (MiM), which raises awareness and facilitates conversations around wellbeing in the workplace, has assisted the Ruthin-based firm in driving these often-stigmatised discussions since 2019.

In addition to the company’s employee assistance programme, which offers its entire workforce 24/7 support for any issue causing distress, Jones Bros provides access to confidential advice from counsellors and experts through the charity.

As a supporter of MiM, the firm is provided with resources to organise interactive workshops to encourage dialogue surrounding welfare and address the stigma of poor mental health.

One session, titled ‘start the conversation’, was delivered to all departments, including site management, to increase awareness of what signs to look out for when a colleague needs help and how to signpost them to the relevant support.

Following the sessions, 40 staff members decided to volunteer and complete a two-day mental health first aid course, enabling them to gain the knowledge and skills needed to offer initial help and guidance to fellow employees.

Jones Bros senior health, safety, and environment manager, Mike Jolley, who enlisted the charity to further the company’s commitments to workplace wellbeing, explained why this long-term investment is crucial.

He said: “In the construction industry, mental health is an increasingly hot topic, and we were receiving more questions internally about what help was available, so it made sense to turn to a credible charity like MiM.

“Working with the organisation has meant we can provide resources to our staff, so they know where to turn for confidential assistance whenever they need it.

“It’s also fantastic that we have extended our support through the mental health first aid course, as this provides another dimension to what we can offer our workforce.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highwaysflood and marine defencewaste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 50 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.

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